Step by Step Guide to Building a Zoom API Integration in C#

Introduction

Hey there, fellow code wranglers! Ready to dive into the world of Zoom API integration? Whether you're looking to automate meeting creation or pull user data, the Zoom API has got you covered. In this guide, we'll walk through the process of building a solid Zoom API integration in C#. Buckle up!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• A Zoom account with API credentials (JWT app type)
• Your favorite C# development environment
• NuGet packages: Newtonsoft.Json and RestSharp

Got all that? Great! Let's roll.

Authentication

First things first, we need to get that JWT token. It's your golden ticket to the Zoom API wonderland.

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;

public static string GenerateJwtToken(string apiKey, string apiSecret)
{
    var tokenExpiration = DateTime.UtcNow.AddHours(2);
    var payload = new
    {
        iss = apiKey,
        exp = ((DateTimeOffset)tokenExpiration).ToUnixTimeSeconds()
    };

    var secretBytes = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(apiSecret);
    using (var hmac = new HMACSHA256(secretBytes))
    {
        var headerJson = "{\"alg\":\"HS256\",\"typ\":\"JWT\"}";
        var payloadJson = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(payload);

        var headerBase64 = Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(headerJson));
        var payloadBase64 = Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(payloadJson));

        var unsignedToken = $"{headerBase64}.{payloadBase64}";
        var signature = hmac.ComputeHash(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(unsignedToken));
        var signatureBase64 = Convert.ToBase64String(signature);

        return $"{unsignedToken}.{signatureBase64}";
    }
}

Setting up the project

Create a new C# project and let's configure our API client:

using RestSharp;

public class ZoomClient
{
    private readonly RestClient _client;
    private readonly string _token;

    public ZoomClient(string apiKey, string apiSecret)
    {
        _client = new RestClient("https://api.zoom.us/v2/");
        _token = GenerateJwtToken(apiKey, apiSecret);
    }

    // We'll add methods here soon!
}

Basic API Calls

Now for the fun part - let's make some API calls!

GET: Retrieving user information

public async Task<User> GetUserAsync(string userId)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"users/{userId}", Method.GET);
    request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {_token}");

    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync<User>(request);
    if (response.IsSuccessful)
        return response.Data;
    
    throw new Exception($"Error: {response.ErrorMessage}");
}

POST: Creating a meeting

public async Task<Meeting> CreateMeetingAsync(string userId, MeetingRequest meetingRequest)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"users/{userId}/meetings", Method.POST);
    request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {_token}");
    request.AddJsonBody(meetingRequest);

    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync<Meeting>(request);
    if (response.IsSuccessful)
        return response.Data;
    
    throw new Exception($"Error: {response.ErrorMessage}");
}

PATCH: Updating meeting details

public async Task<bool> UpdateMeetingAsync(string meetingId, MeetingUpdateRequest updateRequest)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"meetings/{meetingId}", Method.PATCH);
    request.AddHeader("Authorization", $"Bearer {_token}");
    request.AddJsonBody(updateRequest);

    var response = await _client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    return response.IsSuccessful;
}

Handling Responses

RestSharp takes care of most of the heavy lifting when it comes to deserializing JSON responses. For custom objects, make sure your properties match the API response structure.

As for error handling, always check response.IsSuccessful before accessing the data. When things go south, response.ErrorMessage is your friend.

Advanced Features

Webhooks

Zoom's webhooks are a great way to stay in the loop. Here's a basic webhook handler:

[HttpPost("webhook")]
public IActionResult HandleWebhook([FromBody] WebhookPayload payload)
{
    switch (payload.Event)
    {
        case "meeting.started":
            // Handle meeting start
            break;
        case "meeting.ended":
            // Handle meeting end
            break;
        // Add more cases as needed
    }

    return Ok();
}

Best Practices

• Mind the rate limits! Zoom has specific limits for each endpoint.
• Keep your API credentials safe. Use environment variables or secure storage.
• Implement proper error handling and logging.

Testing and Debugging

Unit testing is your best friend here. Mock the API responses and test your logic thoroughly. When things don't work as expected, double-check your request structure and authentication.

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! You're now armed with the knowledge to build a robust Zoom API integration in C#. Remember, the Zoom API documentation is your ultimate guide - don't hesitate to dive deeper.

Happy coding, and may your virtual meetings be forever glitch-free!